Bantayan leaders support Gwen's war against rebels

Barangay leaders in Bantayan town yesterday expressed their support to Governor Gwen Garcia's call for war against insurgents or communist rebels.

Baod barangay captain Ribomapil Holganza presented to Garcia the Barangay Resolution No. 006 supporting her administration's policy to strengthen the government from destabilizing moves of the insurgents and other terrorists groups.

The resolution reads: "Barangay Baod officials and our people are ready anytime to render voluntary service if called upon by the Provincial Administration, to be a member of CafGU or the Anti-Terrorist task Force."

Barangay captains of Suba, Tikad, Binawbao , Cabangbang and Gilutungan also presented their support to the governor, who was in Bantayan yesterday as part of her 2-day visit to the district.

There have been reports that leftist groups have started infiltrating political leaders in the fourth district where Bantayan town belongs but the barangay leaders showed to the governor that they are joining her war against these groups.

Holganza said "the barangay is committed four square solidly behind her call" and challenged other leaders of barangays, towns and cities in Cebu to join the call of Garcia "if they love democracy".

Garcia in turn told barangay officials that communist insurgents have been disguising themselves as pro-people through livelihood and cooperatives in the barangays. "I hope others will take the cue. They are already exploiting us and let me tell you this, I will not dance with the devil," she said.

Garcia already created the Provincial Anti-Insurgency Task Force with her as co-chairs of Provincial Police director Vicente Loot, Regional Mobile Group director Jesus Gacquing and 78th IB Battalion Commander Jess Alvarez.

The task force will also include the Military Intelligence Group, Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division, Regional Intelligence Office, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 and Provincial Board chairman on peace and order committee Jose Mari Gastardo.

Major Gen. Jovito Palparan, commanding general of the Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division, sent a text message to the governor: "please extend my support and admiration to Gov. Gwen Garcia for her tough and proper stand...against insurgency. I wish others will follow and I'm looking forward to working with her."

The governor also said she will put two Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units into one force she would call the Special Rapid Action Force, which would fight mainly against insurgents in mid-north and south of Cebu.

Garcia was in Bantayan Island to inaugurate the farm-to-market roads there and distribute GSIS accident insurance to lupons of the towns of Bantayan, Santa Fe and Madridejos.

But while the governor was in her sorties, her bodyguards reported spotting some suspected rebels near where she was staying. "Mao nang dili gyud mi mo-kumpyansa sa seguridad sa gobernador. The threat is there," the bodyguard said. - Garry B. Lao